Q & A

What drew you to aviation?: I've been drawn to anything related to aviation for as long as I can remember. Having some family who flew, as well as living not far from the local airport all helped me to be bitten by the "bug." I knew from early on that I always wanted to fly, and my passion for this profession has continued to grow. With every flight I'm reminded that I have the best job in the world.

How long have you been involved in aviation education?: I've been involved in aviation education, in different roles for over 10 years. In addition to my current corporate aviation job, I provide independent flight and ground instruction, as well as serving as a staff instructor for a Part 141 school in eastern Pennsylvania. I am also a FAASTeam Representative for the Allentown FSDO.

What's your favorite part of what you do in aviation education?: I really enjoy helping someone realize their dreams of flight. Whether it is a new student pilot just getting to solo, or if it is helping a seasoned pilot become more efficient and proficient, it is always enjoyable to see them realize the fruits of their labor.

What's your least favorite part of what you do in aviation education?: My least favorite part as a flight instructor and FAASTeam Rep is trying to convince the aviation community that continual training is necessary to make our profession and hobby safer. Despite facilitating such training and education, many people still do not participate. General aviation safety will not get better until more aviators embrace a more proactive safety culture, which needs to be instilled as a part of a pilots primary training.

Do you have a memorable aviation experience you'd like to share?: To date, my most favorite aviation experience yet was flying from Pennsylvania to Florida to attend Sun 'N Fun many years ago. It was my first true cross country trip, and was made in a Cessna 182 with two family members. The flight down and back, combined with the experience of Sun 'N Fun, has yet to be topped.

Why did you join SAFE?: I joined SAFE for many reasons. As a professional flight instructor, as with any other professional trade, I believe it is important to have a strong advocacy organization dedicated to representing the profession. I am also drawn to the attention and opportunities offered to members by this organization. Additionally, most people have role models and or mentors in their profession, and so do I. Seeing the instructors and aviators that I respect as SAFE members and administrators, made joining this organization an easy decision.

What would you like to see change in aviation?: I would like to see more professionalism within the flight instructor ranks. While there are many fine educators in the profession, there are also many who are doing more harm than good. This is not a debate between the professional CFI vs. the "time builder", but rather how a flight instructor respects the responsibility they have as a CFI. I'd like to see instructors spend more time about the "why" during training instead of just simply "how."

Any suggestions on how the above might be accomplished?: It is vitally important for a flight training organization, whether it be a flight school or independent CFI, to not only explain about the importance of being safety oriented, but to lead by example. A strong safety culture plants the seed in new aviators, and that way of operating becomes "the norm" instead of just a necessary evil. As professionals, we need to lead from the front.